Above / During the 2017 West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Parade in March, three inflated rubber duckies floated information throughout the parade route about the Riverwalk Duck Race set for Aug. 16, 2017. MJ Leisten and the ducky sponsored by First Community Financial Bank are pictured here with some luck of the Irish.
Race a Five-Buck Duck!
To celebrate the first 35 years of the Naperville Riverwalk in 2016, 2,000 plastic ducks “raced” in the DuPage River from the foot bridge near Centennial Park to the Eagle Street Bridge near the Naperville Municipal Center.
The fun race returns at 10AM Wed., Aug. 16, scheduled rain or shine, to promote the Riverwalk as it approaches its 36th anniversary on Sept. 7. If you have a duck in the race, you don’t have to be present to win.
The good folks at the Naperville Park District who never duck sharing their expert experiences say the race will take less than 10 minutes.
Trumpeteer Pete Ellman again will play the trumpet call to begin the race as up to 2,000 numbered plastic ducks are tossed into the DuPage River.
A huge net will stretch across the DuPage near the Eagle Street Bridge to capture the plastic ducks for reuse next year.
All proceeds will benefit the Riverwalk Foundation for education and enhancements along the winding brick path of the city’s natural treasure in the heart of the central business district.
Mostly, however, this event is designed to heighten awareness about the community spirit put forth by volunteers to create a nature treasure for future generations in downtown Naperville. And nearly 36 years later, celebrating the winding brick path comes with an environmental message, “Don’t feed the ducks! Race them.”
Purchase a duck number online!
The purchase of ducks (Every duck has a number), is available online only at www.riverwalkduckrace.com.
• Ducks are $5 each
• Quack Pack – 5 ducks for $20
• Family Flock – 25 ducks for $100
Cash prizes will be given to 13 duck adopters.
The first three ducks to finish the race will receive cash prizes, $1981, $500 and $250 in that order.
A $36 Lucky Ducky Drawing will recognize 10 lucky ducky winners with $36 each. Lucky Ducky numbers will be drawn at random just prior to the Riverwalk Duck Race from the footbridge and with numbers posted at the end of the race by the Eagle Street Bridge.
Again, duck racers do not have to be present to win.
Help Keep Wildlife Wild and Migrating
Thanks to Riverwalk Duck Race sponsors for helping to heighten awareness to protect the health of ducks and other wildlife as well as their natural environment. Be happy when waterfowl migrate. The aim of this annual promotion is to enlighten well-meaning friends of animals that feeding wildlife stale bread and other human snacks is deleterious to ducks, geese and other waterfowl.
Let wildlife be wild! Help keep ducks, geese and all waterfowl healthy. Don’t feed the ducks.
Duck Race Sponsors
Positively Naperville
First Community Financial Bank (Watch for new video coming soon!)
Big Frog Custom T-Shirts
The Riverwalk Duck Racers have been “rented” from the Rotary Club of Oswego.
Remember! Let wildlife be wild! No matter what pond, river or lake, feeding human snacks and bread crumbs to ducks, geese and other waterfowl is harmful to the health of wildlife and to the environment.
Send 36-word Riverwalk Reflections
In addition to planning the 2nd Annual Riverwalk Duck Race on Tues., August 16, 2017, this past year the Riverwalk Foundation has collected 35-word memories that connect the community to the Riverwalk. The memorable reflections include stories about the Riverwalk’s first 35 years.
It was OK to miss the 35-word target by a few words. As we approach the Riverwalk’s 36th anniversary, consider crafting a 36-word memory. Try and try again to hit the mark. (Nonetheless, one-letter and two-letter words don’t count.) Please send reflections to stephanie@positivelynaperville.com. Thanks!
For starters… a sampling of Riverwalk Reflections
“When I first considered to move to Naperville, my new employer immediately took me to the Riverwalk to show me around. He was as proud as a new parent and for good reasons… it’s just beautiful and full of energy.”
—Geoff Roehll
“To me the Riverwalk is Everything! It’s a place of every season, every reason, everyone, every angle and every time of day and every year. It’s for walking, resting, eating, photos, sightseeing with company, playing with grandkids, greeting friends, music and arts shows. How lucky are we to have it for everything!”
—Jo Lundeen
“I enjoy looking at the river, wildlife, trees and plantings that together bring me a sense of emotional peace. Additional people enjoying the area, and the Carillon ringing, further enhance the Riverwalk’s beauty for me.
—Dick Galitz
35 Years Young
Community Built.
The crown jewel develops
a lush patina.
Watch water surging
Find sun drenched benches. Making
Memories each time.
Awakening the senses.
Music, bells, ducks and laughter
skim frozen quarries.
Brick pathways adjoin
people and commerce. Vibrant
heart of Naperville.
—Karen Solomon
I have a lifetime of great memories of the time that we lived, worked, played and raised our family in Naperville. Thanks for being part of those memories while we worked together on the Riverwalk Commission.
—Bill Epp
On New Year’s Day 1993, I visited Naperville and the Riverwalk with my cousin, Candyce Krumwiede, for the first time. While she shared the city’s sesquicentennial story, downtown’s grand illumination began to glisten. That instant, I caught the spirit of Naperville.
—Stephanie Penick
We have so many memories, but the best was when our son chose the Riverwalk to propose to our lovely daughter-in-law. Now, as a result, we continue making new memories with our two granddaughters!
—Mary Ann and Paul Junkroski
I sit on a bench along the south end of
the Riverwalk at lunchtime.
Eyes closed, ears open
Listening to the river flow
Imagining what this spot must have
been like hundreds of years ago.
—Bob Ross
For me, every Riverwalk visit is also a walk down memory lane. The Riverwalk was the backdrop to many happy summer walks with my family. I’m glad the same is true for families across Naperville.
—Jeanne M. Buddingh
We moved to Naperville in 1983. We have Riverwalk memories of REACH duck races, walks with family and friends, prom photos, paddle boat and sled hill rides, carillon concerts and Veterans Day tributes. It is Naperville’s crown jewel!
—Ron & Marcia Schild
Envisioned as a heartfelt and homegrown tribute to 150 remarkable years, the Riverwalk became and remains the iconic recreational, environmental and cultural centerpiece of Naperville, a powerful catalyst for it’s extraordinary.
—Rick Hitchcock
The RIVERWALK is Naperville. Vision, Volunteers and Volunteers and Value / Ideas, Innovation and Initiative / Generous, Giving and Genuine. These are the words made into reality in the creation of our beloved Riverwalk. Together, the SPIRIT of NAPERVILLE lives.
—John Harvard
I grew up in Downers Grove and married (Sally) into Naperville. One thing that has always impressed me is the generosity in time, labor, money and leadership that Naperville citizens show. Naperville (illians) don’t sit around talking, waiting for others to do it. I truly believe that’s why Naperville consistently has been ranked one of the best city’s in which to live and raise a family.
—John Cuff
Above / Ed Channell (far right next to Rita Harvard) and Glen Ekey (between Gene Drendel and Peg Price) were chairmen of the Riverwalk 2000 campaign, launched in 1996 to extend the brick path from Washington to Hillside. This photo was taken at the groundbreaking for Rotary Plaza near Fredenhagen Park.
One of my proudest moments came when Rita Harvard asked me to chair the fundraising campaign for Fredenhagen Park. As she laid out her plan, I raised my hand and said, “Rita, I’m still tired from the Riverwalk 2000 fundraiser. Whenever I walk down the street, friends approaching me clutch their wallets or change sides.”
—Ed Channell
What are your Riverwalk memories in 36 words? Please send to Stephanie@positivelynaperville.com and place “Riverwalk Memory” in the subject line. Thanks a bunch!
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